About 8,000 people become 65 years old every day. The people who reach this age in Philadelphia today may be in for a rude awakening when they try to find housing to suit their needs. Row homes have been the most prevalent form of housing in the city for centuries, and as residents age these row […]

There are eight day care centers on the six blocks of Rising Sun Avenue between Robbins and Fanshawe streets. My Little Doves by Hellerman Street will be the ninth. Many residents said they are angry about their zoning board’s approval of the site. The Zoning Board of Adjustment held a hearing for the day care […]

For some Philadelphia residents, Venice Island–a patch of land between the Manayunk Canal and the Schuylkill River—is a site for contentious debate. Since its official inception in 1889, Venice Island has challenged a community determined to reform it. Residents have complained about major flooding issues, citing a devastating flood in 1999 that occurred on and […]

“After years of decline, North Broad Street truly is coming back,” said consultants with Orth-Rodgers & Associates, Inc. and three other firms in a transportation and access study presented to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. The revitalization of North Broad Street began close to City Hall but is slowly creeping upward toward Francisville – which […]

Although the newly emerging “Philadelphia 2035” is a comprehensive plan to energize this historic city for more improvements over the next 24 years some of the improvements will be visible within the next year in many neighborhoods including Francisville. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is developing “Philadelphia 2035.” The CPC created a website, phila2035.org, […]

When married couple Amanda Bossard and Murat Aritan dreamed of bringing their unique sustainable seafood company, Otolith, to Philadelphia in 2007, they knew some bumps in the road would follow. Aritan spends six months of the year fishing in the bountiful but deadly waters off Alaska away from his family, while Bossard, who raises their […]

Local residents met Tuesday night at the Fishtown Recreation Center to help support local business. The Fishtown Market, owned by Mark Reiber was found out of variance in a license renewal. Zoning laws prohibit Reiber to have takeout food or storage on the third floor of his Grocery Deli, located at Norris and Memphis. Reiber […]

Added on February 4, 2011 By Colin Fry and Brandi HargettePrisons , zoning

A prison has been proposed in the Southwest Philadelphia area. The facility would be a 400-bed re-entry program. It has been opposed by many people in the neighborhood. Many fliers have been handed out and protests have been scheduled. The proposed prison would be located at 5213 Grays Ave. The Southwest Community Development Corp. has […]

The blocks of Frankford Avenue that snake through Fishtown and Kensington have seen a resurgence in businesses in the past five years. This trend is only expected to intensify if the proposed zoning code changes are approved, according to local business and community groups. Many Fishtown and Kensington leaders are especially optimistic about the Zoning […]

One of the most notable characteristics of the Fox Chase section of Northeast Philadelphia is its train station, and the businesses that surround it. Because of the amount of people who use the train station, and the thriving neighborhood around it, many believe Fox Chase is a great example of transit-oriented development and has the […]